"Come for lunch?" Alex asked her favorite customer.
"Sure did." Daniel smiled.
"Grab a seat, I'll be back in a minute." Alex sighed as another customer called to her.
When she returned to the bar she found Molly and Daniel talking then Boris hit the bell and Molly went into the kitchen.
"You two seemed deep in conversation." Alex commented.
"I was just telling her I'll be away tomorrow and the choir should practice anyway."
"You'll be back by Halloween right, the party..."
"I'll be there."
"So how do you plan on entertaining the crowd Reverend Cooper?" She grinned.
"You'll find out with the crowd Ms. Stone." He replied with a mischievious smile.
"Just the man I need to see."
"Hey Marcus, coffee?" Alex asked the school science teacher.
"No, I just came to find out how long Daniel's performance for the show is."
"Ten minutes."
"O..kay." Marcus nodded writing it down. "See you both later." He clapped Daniel's back lightly and headed for the door.
"I'll be right back." Alex said and left the minister too
.She glanced back to make sure he wasn't watching then ran out the door.
"Marcus!"
He turned and came back when she motioned to him.
"What is Daniel doing in the show?"
"He wouldn't tell me." The black man shrugged then chuckled. "He did say it would surprise everyone though."
Alex frowned and drummed her fingers on the railing.
"Wouldn't tell you either huh?"
"No."
"Guess we'll find out in two days." He grinned.
"Yeah." She sighed and went back inside.
"Everything okay?" Daniel asked when she returned.
"Yeah."
"Okay, gotta go, a few things to do before my trip." He nodded paying the bill.
"Not even a hint of the act?" She gave him her best pleading look.
"Nope, see ya." He grinned and left.
Alex looked up and her mouth opened slightly seeing the man and woman that walked in the next afternoon.
"Uh...welcome...to...Hope Island." She managed.
"Thank you." The short, raven haired, woman replied with an accent. "My brother and I called about a room."
"Oh...your names?"
"Calendarius, Andre and Janissa."
"Uh..." Alex quickly flipped through the registry. "Yes, here you are...two beds."
"Yes." The man said.
Alex looked at him and her pulse quickened at the intensity of his gaze. Hs hair was raven as well but much longer than his sisters and he stood nearly a foot taller. They both wore long black coats, pants and boots.
"If...you'll follow me." Alex cleared her throat and led them up the stairs after grabbing the key off the peg board. "My name's--"
"Alex."
She turned to the man wide-eyed.
"You have a son..." He closed his eyes and touched is temple. "Dylan...is his name."
"How...?"
"I must rest now." He said opening his eyes.
"Yes my brother." Janissa nodded and turned to Alex.
The inn keeper stared at them.
"Please show us to our room and I will explain."
Alex couldn't speak and led them to their room,her mind buzzing by what had happened.
"Thank you." The man said and took their luggage inside.
"It is said the eyes are the windows to the soul...my brother can see into those windows." Janissa told her.
"He's psychic?"
"As it were. I must go to him now."
Alex nodded as the woman went inside and closed the door behind her.
Alex took a deep breath feeling unnerved.
"Alex? You okay?"
"You're not going to believe what just happened Mol." Alex took her arm and led her down the steps.
The inn was filled up by the dinner hour, word of the newcomers and the man's "gift" having spread like wild fire in short order.
"Do you think they'll come down?" Nub asked.
"I would take his "gift" with a grain of salt." Fr. Mac. replied skeptically.
"You don't believe he could read her soul?" Brian asked.
"How do you explain how he knew her name as well as Dylan's?" Bonita inquired.
"Gypsies know all." Boris said joining them. "Boris hear many stories in Russia."
"More like a search on the internet." Kevin answered.
"He's right, you can find out about pretty much anyone with a computer." Callie added thinking of the search she did on Daniel.
"All I know is that it makes me nervous." Alex uttered.
Brian was about to respond when Nub tapped him on the shoulder and nodded toward the stairs.
"Could we get a table?" Janissa asked as they reached the bar.
"Uh..." Alex looked around and espied an empty one. "Follow me."
The man stopped in front of Bonita.
"You have not spoken to your mother in years."
Bonita was stunned.
"A man...Calvin Douglas...led to this...but...you are closer to your mother now for it."
Bonita nodded speechless.
Janissa led him to the table.
"That can't be explained by computer." Molly uttered.
"I agree." Kevin said startled. "I'm gonna keep an eye on them." He pursed his lips, all business now.
"I have to tell mom!" Bonita hurried out the door.
"What do you say about that Padre?" Brian asked.
Father Mac. frowned but remained silent watching the pair.
"Widow's Walk. Daniel! Yeah, hold on." Molly grinned handing the phone to the redhead the next morning.
"Hi--oh, yeah, I can do that. Is everything okay? You're sure? I was really looking forward to what you were going to do in the show. Next year I guess. Okay, bye."
"Alex?"
"Daniel isn't going to be home in time for the party." Alex sighed then called Marcus to let him know. She chuckled at his suggestion she take his place then said good-bye and hung up.
"Wanted you to fill in huh?" Molly grinned.
"Yeah." She rolled her eyes. "He has to find someone to take Daniel's slot now. You interested?" Alex elbowed her.
"No...but..." The blonde's eyes drifted toward the stairs.
"Mol?" Alex followed her gaze puzzled.
"We could ask Mr. Calendarius." Molly looked at her.
"Are you crazy?!? No way!"
"The worse they can say is no." Molly replied pulling her toward the stairs.
"Mol--" Alex protested as her best friend knocked on the door.
It opened to reveal Janissa.
"We have a request of your brother." Molly said.
Janissa looked to the man who nodded so she let them all the way in.
The redhead shot Molly a look as the blonde pushed her ahead.
"Um...we're having this party...for Halloween...at...the school...for the kids..." Alex began then realized she was rambling. "One of the performers won't be back in time and "we" wondered if you would fill in for him?"
Andre didn't reply so Molly stepped up.
"You've already "read" some of the islanders, would it really be asking that much to do some more?"
"Ten minutes, tops." Alex added.
Janissa touched his shoulder and he looked at her, communicating silently.
"I will do your show." He replied.
"Thank you!" The women said in unison.
"Tonight, 8 p.m. at the school." Alex added as they hurried out.
"I must walk."
Janissa nodded and they left the inn.
Callie hurried into the police "station".
"Hey Callie." Kevin greeted.
"I did some checking...Andre and Janissa Calendarius don't exist!"
"Stage names?"
"Yeah. And get this...I followed them as they left the inn a couple of hours ago..they went up to the hill." She said in triumph.
"So." He shrugged.
"Doesn't Andre remind you of someone? Someone we all know and love."
"Huh?"
Callie looked at him.
"Oh...OH! You think he's--"
"Oh yeah!"
"Should we keep quiet?"
Callie chuckled and motioned him closer.
"Do you see Kevin? He said he'd meet me here." Molly asked Alex when she and Dylan arrived for the show.
"Sorry." Alex shook her head and smiled at the costumed children.
The curtain opened and music began which was the cue for everyone to take their seats and they did.
"Welcome to Halloween on Hope. We have an amazing show for you this evening and we'll begin with our first act...The Bones Brothers!" Marcus emceed.
Everyone chuckled as two dancing skeletons appeared.
Several more acts followed receiving enthusiastic applause.
"I still don't see Kevin." Molly fretted as the show neared conclusion.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen...Andre Calendarius." Marcus announced.
The crowd murmured and watched as Janissa walked into their midst and took Brian up on stage.
"You...went treasure hunting...salt..."
The crowd chuckled as Brian blushed then Janissa led him back to his seat and brought Fr. Mac. up on stage.
The priest folded his arms.
"You have...a bird...Barnabus...he likes to...party til the cows come home...and eat Cheerios."
The audience laughed again and Janissa took him back then went to Boris, who proudly stood and followed her to her brother.
"You are--"
"Boris, ya!"
The audience chuckled.
"A painter...an almost cosmonaut--"
"Ya! Suit was too small!" Boris nodded enthralled.
"Janissa." Andre nodded.
The woman gently pulled the big Russian off the stage.
"One more." Her brother said.
"How about me?" Kevin asked.
Andre looked at him, seeming to hesitate a moment, then nodded.
Janissa led him up the steps.
"You...almost ran over your mother-in-law on the eve of your wedding."
"Yeah, I did...but since you were at the inn when I came in with her luggage, you knew that...Daniel."
The audience gasped and murmured to each other.
"I...do not know..." Andre shook his head.
"Who is Daniel?" Janissa asked hurrying to his side.
"A friend of yours?" Kevin smirked at Andre.
"I..." The psychic stumbled back looking at the man.
"Daniel you are so busted! Give it up!" Callie laughed.
"Give what up?"
Everyone turned and Kevin and Callie gaped at the minister standing in the doorway.
"Daniel!" Alex nearly shouted.
"What is going on?" He asked making his way up on the stage.
"You...are Daniel?" Andre asked.
"Yes." Daniel helped him up.
"You have...a cousin...new..."
"How...?"
"Is in movies..."
"Yeah." Daniel nodded looking at him then they turned to the silent audience.
"HAPPY HALLOWEEN!" Daniel, Andre and Janissa said then laughed together.
It took a few moments for the audience to comprehend the joke that had been played on them but then they broke into laughter shaking their heads.
"This was all a..." Kevin asked stunned.
"Halloween prank." Daniel clapped his shoulder grinning.
"Oh man!" Kevin shook his head and chuckled.
"So who is..." Callie motioned.
"Andre?" Daniel looked at him.
The man and woman removed their wigs and prosthetics making the audience gasp.
"Rollie is my cousin, newly found and Angie is his partner--"
"And now girlfriend." Rollie grinned at Angie.
"I stand corrected. They're special effects artists for the movies." Daniel smiled at them.
"You guys look like twins." Dylan grinned at them.
"We look like our grandfathers." Rollie replied, amused by the looks his accent evoked.
"They were twins. It's just a genetic thing." Daniel shrugged.
"I want to know how you pulled this off." Callie eyed her minister, amused.
"And why." Fr. Mac. added, less amused.
"Rollie called and said they were coming out this way, Marcus had just asked me to be a part of this show so I talked them into it."
"Yeah, it took alot to talk Rol into this." Angie rolled her eyes and got a goofy grin in reply.
"You told him all that stuff about us?" Alex smirked at Daniel.
"Rollie and Angie are wearing miniature cameras--"
Rollie pointed to the stickpin he wore while Angie touched the pendant on her necklace.
"We set up a monitor in a classroom so Daniel could see who to choose then he told us in these earpieces," Rolie removed his and showed them, "the things I revealed about you all."
"Cool." Dylan grinned looking at them.
"It's been a tough year, I thought everyone could use some amusement." Daniel looked at Father Mac.
"Well you had me going, I thought you were him." Kevin shook his head.
"When you and Callie said that I ran down the hall to make my sudden appearance." Daniel sighed.
"So...what can we expect next year?" Marcus asked
."That's a really good question." Daniel answered.
"Well I'm sure it will be just as creative." Callie replied.
"Undoubtedly." Alex smirked at him.
"See you all tomorrow then." Daniel replied and headed away.
"You're leaving?" Alex grabbed is arm.
"It'll take some time to top this." He smirked at her.
"Start thinking tomorrow mister. I saw a ghost cookie with your name on it at the refreshment table."
"Okay." He grinned as she led him away.
"What do you say sweetie, cookies?"
"Let's go boss."
Rollie chuckled and gave her a kiss as they walked away.
"What do you guys think of this headline: 'The Amazing Andre or How Daniel Pulled The Biggest Halloween Prank Hope Island Has Ever Seen'?"
"Come on Callie, I'll buy you a cookie and we'll figure out another one." Kevin chuckled escorting her and Molly away.
"Come on Nub, I have a new idea to bring tourists to Hope...help me figure out how to convince Daniel's cousin to do this again." Brian drug the younger man away.
"Well Father Mac., what did you think of all this?" Bonita asked.
"I think..." He started and looked around at the smiling faces of the islanders, "it's been a truly Hope-y Halloween."
"Oh Fr. Mac!" Ruby chuckled and they went to get some Halloween cookies too!